Augusta, Mich. - More than 1,000 Soldiers will witness a change of Michigan Army National Guard leadership, Saturday (Mar. 21), 5 p.m. on the Parade Field at Fort Custer Training Center, Augusta, Mich.

Lt. Col. Greg Durkac, outgoing commander of the Wyoming, Mich.-based 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, will pass the battalion colors to incoming commander, Maj. Ryan Connelly. The 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment recently returned from a 12-month deployment to al-Anbar Province, Iraq under Durkac's command.

Incoming commander, Connelly, joined the 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry in 2005 as the battalion's executive officer and most recently served as operations officer during the battalion's tour in Iraq. Connelly is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and earned numerous awards including the Bronze Star Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, and the Army Service Ribbon.

The change of command ceremony is one of the Army's most significant ceremonies. The passing of the colors from the outgoing commander through the senior commander to the incoming commander symbolizes a passing of trust and confidence, as well as a charge of responsibility from the former commander to the new commander. The return of the colors to the Command Sergeant Major symbolizes the bond between the commissioned and non-commissioned leaders.

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MEDIA ADVISORY
Media is invited to attend the Change of Command Ceremony, March 21, 5 p.m. on the Parade Field at Fort Custer, Augusta, Mich.